Development Dialogue

Development Dialogue is a language of contemporary discourses on human development which aims to stimulate each entity of the society for a new history of humanity. It stands for communicating the problems that people face and hence is more value-based than other units of human life. Envisioned with better quality of human life it admires the imagination of ordinary citizens, their daily concerns and necessities and circulate these elements in policy articulation.

CA

"Constitutional Ambassadors at Development Dialogue fosters leadership, awareness and consciousness among youths and, prepares them for community organizing, advocacy and envoy of peace & friendship.”

As we celebrate the first International Day of The Girl Child this year, at least 10 million girls every
year continue to be pulled out from
schools to be married off, pay off family debts or work as child labourers. Girls
throughout the world face higher rates of violence, poverty, or discrimination. They are either exploited or thrown into dire
poverty, their chance of living better lives greatly diminished by the lack or deprivation
of the opportunity to be educated.

The International Day
of The Girl Child puts emphasis in promoting the importance of girls'
education, equal treatment and opportunities for girls around the world in various
areas such as education, law, nutrition, health care, freedom from violence and
abuse, empowerment, and eliminating the tragedy of child brides.

It is tragic that their
youth is stolen from them when they are married off at such a young age,
exposed to human slavery, or poverty. Child brides banished into slavery or
sexual exploitation are common stories. Some experience extreme suffering of
being physically brutalized and sexually abused into prostitution by their own
spouses or relatives. The fact that most of these young girls hardly have an
education worsens their condition. They become dependent on their spouse and
unable to support themselves. They are exposed to the responsibility and health
risk of early pregnancy and motherhood. These
are realities that face the world today.

As part of
collaborative efforts among nations, governments have agreed on child brides
and girls' education as among major global concerns that have to be resolved. The
treatment of females as secondary or non-priority members of the family however
slows down progress in eliminating the practice of child brides and making
education available for all. It comes with the recognition that to be able to
achieve these, there is a need to promote gender equality and provide an avenue
for females to be educated.

Awareness campaigns and
strategies launched by the United Nations, governments and volunteer groups
have helped narrow down the gender gap and provided more opportunities for
girls to have an education and avoid early marriage. Though there have been marked
developments in narrowing the gap, the reality is that the problem still
persists among many countries where females are regarded as the inferior
gender. This in effect has stunted the rapid development of these countries.
The challenges ahead are humongous. In this day and age, girls speaking out and
asserting their rights continue to be threatened. Such is the case of 14-year
old Pakistani teenager Malala
Yousafzai. She survived a shot in the head by Talibans who vow to try killing her again. Her “crime?” – fighting for
girls’ right to have an education.

The growing concern on
the plight of young girls trafficked, enslaved or exposed to some form of abuse or discrimination shows that people will not take this quietly.
Open protests and girls continuing to fight for their rights despite threats
clearly show the change of the times. They realize the risks involved in standing
up to grave opposition but there is no other direction to go but forward. There
is no room for fear if we are to achieve equality and justice for girls
marginalized because of their gender.